Ocean Motion
OCEAN MOTION!
Waves
Waves
The up and down movement of surface water.
Waves are really energy!
Water moves in a circular motion, while the energy moves forward!
What makes a wave?
Most waves are caused by wind and can grow in size according to:
1. Speed of wind
2. How long the wind blows
3. How far (distance) the wind blows
Parts of a Wave
Tsunamis
Giant waves caused by earthquakes and volcanoes
Storm Surge
Large domes of water caused by low air pressure during hurricanes
and tropical storms.
Rogue Waves
Huge wave formed by large storm waves
joining together
Streams of water that flow like rivers through the ocean.
Unlike waves, currents do move water forward!
Caused by wind patterns and different water densities.
Oceans
have warm
and cold
currents.
There are 7
major
ocean
currents
These
currents help
determine
weather &
climate
patterns
The Gulf Stream –a well known Surface Current!
Part of a large current that carries warm water up the Southeastern coast of
America as well as over to Western Europe.
Types of Currents
Surface Current: Flow across surface of ocean
Caused by prevailing winds (Gulfstream)
Shoreline Currents: local currents that run along the shore
caused and changed by winds and shifting sand
Longshore Current: type of shoreline current that carries large amounts of beach
material from one place to another.
Rip Current: shoreline current that flows away from beach
(very dangerous to swimmers!)
Deep Ocean Currents – caused by differences in water temperature.
Cold water is heavier than warm water so it sinks.
Currents do not move in a straight line
because Earth’s rotation causes them to bend.
Currents in Northern Hemisphere flow clockwise
Currents in Southern Hemisphere flow counter-clockwise
TIDES
Tides
The daily rise and fall of the level of the ocean.
Caused by the pull of gravity from the sun and moon.
The bulges of
water
on either side of
the earth
are called
HIGH TIDES
The low-water
levels
are called
LOW TIDES.
And now….for some ocean humor!